Difference between revisions of "The Short, Simple Dismissal Of Libertarianism"
From Critiques Of Libertarianism
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# Libertarians can only agree with each other if they get so vague that their statements have no fixed meaning. It's the same way we know that no more than one religion could be right, and probably none are. | # Libertarians can only agree with each other if they get so vague that their statements have no fixed meaning. It's the same way we know that no more than one religion could be right, and probably none are. | ||
# Libertarians use vague glittering generalities of propaganda (terms like "liberty") rather than specifics such as "liberty for A to do B at an uncompensated cost C to D". | # Libertarians use vague glittering generalities of propaganda (terms like "liberty") rather than specifics such as "liberty for A to do B at an uncompensated cost C to D". | ||
| + | # Libertarians value their own personal freedoms (especially property and guns) far above other freedoms or the freedom of others. No universalism or equality here: they want to be masters. | ||
# Libertarianism is based on imaginary "natural rights" (including property rights.) Real rights are creations of coercive human institutions such as law. | # Libertarianism is based on imaginary "natural rights" (including property rights.) Real rights are creations of coercive human institutions such as law. | ||
# Or libertarianism is based on utilitarianism which is not only flakey, but can obviously conflict with individual liberty. | # Or libertarianism is based on utilitarianism which is not only flakey, but can obviously conflict with individual liberty. | ||
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# Libertarian philosophy relies on channeling your attention away from hidden premises and towards trick examples and faulty generalizations. | # Libertarian philosophy relies on channeling your attention away from hidden premises and towards trick examples and faulty generalizations. | ||
# Libertarianism is domineering and totalitarian: nothing and nobody is excused from ownership and markets. No matter how impractical markets might be. | # Libertarianism is domineering and totalitarian: nothing and nobody is excused from ownership and markets. No matter how impractical markets might be. | ||
| + | # Libertarians lie about the "free market": it is only an academic model. Actual markets differ enormously from the assumptions and behaviors of free market models. | ||
# Libertarian views of society are dog-eat-dog in the market and servitude, charity, poverty or starvation for the losers. | # Libertarian views of society are dog-eat-dog in the market and servitude, charity, poverty or starvation for the losers. | ||
# It's an ideology that glorifies and justifies selfishness by painting altruism and empathy as evil. | # It's an ideology that glorifies and justifies selfishness by painting altruism and empathy as evil. | ||
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# Libertarians ignore ideas of equality and justice except to make the ludicrous claim that markets provide them. | # Libertarians ignore ideas of equality and justice except to make the ludicrous claim that markets provide them. | ||
# Libertarians demonize government while ignoring the benefits of government. | # Libertarians demonize government while ignoring the benefits of government. | ||
| + | # Libertarians have no concept of the common good. | ||
# Libertarians have no solution for public goods problems. | # Libertarians have no solution for public goods problems. | ||
# Libertarians have no justification for taxation even if they consider some government services (such as defense) necessary. | # Libertarians have no justification for taxation even if they consider some government services (such as defense) necessary. | ||
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# Libertarians shill for the wealthy. | # Libertarians shill for the wealthy. | ||
# The intellectual structure of modern libertarianism has been funded from the start by the wealthy and corporations as propaganda to serve their interests. | # The intellectual structure of modern libertarianism has been funded from the start by the wealthy and corporations as propaganda to serve their interests. | ||
| + | # Libertarian ideology is loaded with large numbers of words reinterpreted to circularly force their conclusions, perhaps worse than Marxist ideology is. | ||
# Popular libertarianism is either subsidized at a loss by the wealthy or pushed by policy "entrepreneurs" who bilk angry old white men. | # Popular libertarianism is either subsidized at a loss by the wealthy or pushed by policy "entrepreneurs" who bilk angry old white men. | ||
# Libertarians engage in corporate-funded denialism of science, history and economics. | # Libertarians engage in corporate-funded denialism of science, history and economics. | ||
